PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
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Safety Seminar offers ATV training
A total of 26 teenagers were given the opportunity to learn about proper All Terrain Vehicle safety at the annual Oklahoma Farm Bureau Safety Seminar, June 12-14, in Stroud. Officials with the OFB Safety Services department said 2012 was the first year for the camp to include a session on ATV training. Certified instructors covered lessons on riding gear, pre-ride inspections, proper use of the machine and overall ATV safety. “ATVs have become a very common tool on farms and a lot of kids use them in gathering cattle, hauling trailers and other farm tasks,” said OFB safety specialist David Turner. “We’re introducing this program because we want kids to be safer in life and also give them a good understanding about how to use this kind of equipment.” After completing the course, the students received an ATV safety certificate. Other annual activities at the three-day Teens practice seminar included a rollover driving the ATV simulator demonstracourse at Stroud’s tion from the Oklahoma Tatanka Ranch. Highway Safety Council, a team building ropes course and also new this year, gun safety and shooting sports training from the Oklahoma Wildlife Department. (Continued on page 2)
June 29, 2012
In This Issue • OFB Safety Seminar • Wichert receives AITC Award • Bolay joins communications dep • Spradling visits Israel • Details on HB 3110 • AFBF PR Awards • Women in Ag Conference
Take note of summer deadlines OFB members should submit their Farm Family of the Year applications to their Women’s committee district representative by Aug. 1. The state deadline for Farm Family of the Year, YF&R Achievement Award and YF&R Excellence in Ag is Aug. 15. See the Women and YF&R program pages on the OFB website for links to the award applications.
Wichert receives national Ag Advocate award Long-time Major County Farm Bureau member Clara Wichert recently received the National Ag In The Classroom Ag Advocate award at the National AITC Conference in Loveland, Colo., June 19-22. The national award recognizes volunteers for their efforts to promote agricultural literacy and use creative strategies to teach students about the importance of agriculture. Wichert developed an ag literacy program in the Fairview school district more than 20 years ago that is still in rotation today. Every month, the farmer visits her local elementary school to teach a project from Oklahoma’s Ag in Clara Wichert farms with the Classroom program. Wichert’s lessons focus her family near Fairview. on subjects including science, math and physical education while also incorporating important facts about agricultural commodities and rural safety issues. Her AITC involvement dates back to 1981 when the program’s first organizational meeting was held. The program is sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry in partnership with the State Department of Education and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. Wichert is a charter member of the AITC advisory board and continues to serve on the board today. Wichert received an all-expense-paid trip to the National AITC Conference where she was honored with a $500 stipend and the Ag Advocate award.